New CS model? Fender Custom Shop Proto Jazzmaster

[dougk]

Great looking guitars. All three of them look great, and it looks like they took the best of everything. I love that they are a new model, and not reliced, and I was interested enough to click on the link.

$4,000? I know they are CS models, but come on. Necks bolted on to painted bodies with modern electronics screwed into plastic. Fender deserves their profit for building their brand, but that price is shocking. Is there a market for new guitars that cost that much? That aren't craftsman dependent like a high end acoustic?

I know I am an old crab, but that makes me shake my head.

FOUR THOUSAND?

FOUR FREAKING THOUSAND?

I just want to be clear. You take a Jazzmaster. Delete a bunch of cost driving hardware. Then charge 4k for it?

I am way to cheap. You can get Arcturus, in Alder, with a hardtail bridge and any pickups you want for 1950. http://www.kauerguitars.com/daylighter/arcturus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Seriously.

[Larry Mal]

Step forward, step back with Fender. How is this a prototype if it isn't vintage specs?

And who cares. Fine, so it's not vintage specs. But what's the point of it? So it's not a historical recreation of a guitar that no one ever saw really. It's not a Jazzmaster, once again, they just had to fuck with the model. So, it's basically a stop-tail Stratocaster except with Jazzmaster pickups and the shape. Who was asking for that?

I don't see what's good about this guitar at any price.

[furtherpale]

Step forward, step back with Fender. How is this a prototype if it isn't vintage specs?

And who cares. Fine, so it's not vintage specs. But what's the point of it? So it's not a historical recreation of a guitar that no one ever saw really. It's not a Jazzmaster, once again, they just had to fuck with the model. So, it's basically a stop-tail Stratocaster except with Jazzmaster pickups and the shape. Who was asking for that?

I don't see what's good about this guitar at any price.

could be a prototype for a possible CS, could be based on a prototype leo made early into designing the JM...

[smalahove]

Step forward, step back with Fender. How is this a prototype if it isn't vintage specs?

And who cares. Fine, so it's not vintage specs. But what's the point of it? So it's not a historical recreation of a guitar that no one ever saw really. It's not a Jazzmaster, once again, they just had to fuck with the model. So, it's basically a stop-tail Stratocaster except with Jazzmaster pickups and the shape. Who was asking for that?

I don't see what's good about this guitar at any price.

could be a prototype for a possible CS, could be based on a prototype leo made early into designing the JM...

Actually, I think it's a continuation of the Pro series CS started a few years ago. I have no idea how they went from Pro to Proto :-)

Proto Series models (formerly Pro Series) are the Fender Custom Shop’s proving-ground instruments, built with distinctive features typically requested for Master Built guitars and basses.

From a strat/tele perspective, it's about an amalgam of 50s and modern specs, even more so than just fretboard radius and frets, which is allready pretty common.

http://www.fender.com/custom-shop/guita ... -sunburst/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MuscleDad420]

I'm just glad it's not another offset with a stopbar AOM setup or a strat jack.

[smalahove]

I agree. Otoh it could have been really great if they'd chosen a different bridge, say like on Peter Stroud signature guitar (Elliot guitars):

[The Dead Ranch Hands]

Great looking guitars. All three of them look great, and it looks like they took the best of everything. I love that they are a new model, and not reliced, and I was interested enough to click on the link.

$4,000? I know they are CS models, but come on. Necks bolted on to painted bodies with modern electronics screwed into plastic. Fender deserves their profit for building their brand, but that price is shocking. Is there a market for new guitars that cost that much? That aren't craftsman dependent like a high end acoustic?

I know I am an old crab, but that makes me shake my head.

FOUR THOUSAND?

FOUR FREAKING THOUSAND?

I just want to be clear. You take a Jazzmaster. Delete a bunch of cost driving hardware. Then charge 4k for it?

I am way to cheap. You can get Arcturus, in Alder, with a hardtail bridge and any pickups you want for 1950. http://www.kauerguitars.com/daylighter/arcturus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Seriously.

Yeah, that's ridiculous. It looks like a fun little cheap guitar. It looks like a Squier, but costs TGP lawyer monies

[Johnny Alien]

Jazzmasters just look wrong without a tremolo or stop bridge. There is way too much space back there and if nothings going to be there it's just wasted space. Never likes it and never will. It looks especially wrong on the back where the string through is in the center of that massive body. Really shows off that it's the wrong body shape for that type of design. A strat or Tele with jazzmaster pickups would make way more sense than this and I am not even sure that would make sense either.

[thatfenderguy]

This is almost exatly what i've been looking for. Now lets drop the price about $3000.

[parkerstang]

Saw these online at Dave's the other day. They do look awesome, but the hard tail is a deal breaker for me too.

[Larry Mal]

could be a prototype for a possible CS, could be based on a prototype leo made early into designing the JM...

Yeah, I didn't think about it being a prototype of a design that basically hasn't existed as far as guitar history is concerned. I mean, what's the point of making a prototype model commemorating a guitar that even very few guitarists would know about or care about?

As far as it being a prototype of Leo's design for the Jazzmaster, that would be kind of interesting and at first that's what I thought this was. But then I realized it had modern specs on there as far as frets and neck radius so it's not that. So what the fuck is it?

Ultimately, nothing more than a pointlessly expensive guitar. It's certainly not an improvement on anything.

[parry]

@H, L@@K!
ANOTHER Jazzmaster for people who hate Jazzmasters!!

Ugh...these things are the bastard poster-children for design by committee.

"I have a well-thought out, beautiful design."

"It's PERECT! We LOVE everything about it. Don't change a thing!! Except these few things.... I ran this by my wife, who started but never finished an interior decorating course at a local community college and has picked out drapes for many of our friend's cottages... but I digress... anyway - here's your list of changes..."


Just...

[mackerelmint]

Huh.

Yeah, the wasted space behind the bridge thing gets to me. It's part of why I don't like telemasters much. And there's the control plate not matching the contour, looking like it was tossed on as an afterthought. It might sound pretty good, but won't have the resonance of a JM. Or, you know, it might sound as dead inside as a truck stop hooker. hardtail strats tend in that direction, it's hard to see why this would be any different. I have my doubts that JM pickups would actually compensate for that. Of course, this looks like it's going after blooz lawyer money and blooz lawyers want strats, so I dunno who's gonna be buying these... Fender, what are you doing?

[Larry Mal]

"What do you guys wanna do today? I'm fucking bored."

"I dunno, you want to slap some shit from other guitars on a Jazzmaster body and call it something that sounds vaguely important, mark the price the fuck up and see if anyone actually buys the thing?"

"Again? Whatever. Let's get to it. This place sucks."

[gutter rock]

Should be a $200 Squier.